LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I am writing in regard to your article on the Western Farm Press Web site about Mendocino County and it's complete insanity regarding marijuana, among other crops.

I am not writing to protest your article. In fact, it was very accurate. I am only writing to let you know that there are those of us in Mendocino County who always fight these measures. Albeit, we are a small bunch, but we still do not believe this complete foolishness should pass without some resistance.

In the regard to the banning of GMOs, that particular measure was only passed by a slight margin. I am not some person randomly shooting my mouth off, but an actual resident of Mendocino County. I have lived here my entire life, and even though that only amounts to 16 years, I still think I have a fairly accurate perception of the political and social climate here.

Anyway, the sole purpose of this letter is to let you know all Mendocino County residents do not have medical marijuana cards, and some of us actually realize the benefits of GMOs. I know the chance of your actually reading this letter is fairly slim, but I still thought it would give you a different perspective on Mendocino County.

Sincerely, Ryan T. Mayfield

Mr. Cline:

I read your editorial, slamming Mendecino County for wanting to certify medical marijuana as organic, with interest. Unfortunately, you made certain factual errors in the editorial. You also made some incorrect assumptions about the reason that some marijuana growers can be violent.

Your assertion that the four RCMP officers tragically killed in Alberta, Canada, were conducting a marijuana raid is wholly incorrect. Police were on the premises in connection with repossessing property, not raiding a marijuana operation. Even the commissioner of the RCMP has acknowledged this fact.

Moreover, violence is not inherent in growing marijuana. The reason that there is danger is because of marijuana prohibition. In the case of marijuana, our laws make the situation worse, not better. This is particularly true for critically and chronically ill people for whom marijuana provides effective relief. And organic marijuana is better medicine.

In Canada, we have a certified organic, legal, marijuana grower (www.islandharvest.ca); and sick people are better off for it.

If (Kent) Bradford (director of the University of California, Davis Seed Biotechnology Center) will get an open mind and stop reading the GM/Biotech corporations propaganda, he will find that the public is concerned. Surveys show they are. Why does he think the people are switching to organic food?